Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-28
SHERMAN SCORCHED.

with capital of $4,000.
SHERMAN SC0RCHED.
Comptroller Trenholm Scores Him for In
jecting Politics Into the Fidelity Failure.
CINCINNATI, June 27.-Hon. w. l..
Trenholm, Comptroller of the United
States Currency, was seated in the window
in his cozy room at the st. Nicholas Hotel
last evening placidly smoking good cigar
when reporter was ushered in. The re-
porter asked:
"Have you read the interview with Sen
ator Sherman, telegraphed from Canton,
Ohio, to the New York Tribune, in which
he makes political capital of the Fidelity
Bank?"
The Comptroller's genial face darkened,
his brow wrinkled and he Immediately
changed from the easy fluent talker to the
thoughtful, careful man ofpublic affairs, as
he answered:
'Let me read the interview to which
you refer"
The gentleman was then shown the fol-
lowing clipping:
WHAT SHERMAN SAID.
Speaking of the Fidelity Bank failure,
Senator Sherman said he understood that
the bank was originally designed TO be a
Democratic institution, which was to be
benefited vastly by its selection as United
States depository. Arrangements had
been made through the influence of Demo-
cratic politicians to secure large Govern
ment deposits, and the friendships of Man
ming and Jordan for the concern was well
known. Senator Sherman considers the
recent business troubles in Ohio as possible
forerunners of financial depression, for
which he blames the inefficiency of Cleve-
lands Administration.
81 read this" said Mr.. Trenholm seri-
ously, "for the first time in one OF the
papers yesterday, and have since heard
that it appeared in the New York Tribune
of yesterday morning"
''When first saw it took it for granted
it was a mistake, because l did not think
that Mr.. Sherman, who was Vice-President
of the United States at the time Mr.. Man.
ming was Secretary of the Treasury and
Mr. Jordan was Treasurer, would have
used their names in connection with such
suggestions rs this paragraphs conveys. j"
az expected, therefore, to see in the
Cincinnati papers this morning denial by
Mr. Sherman of his having used any such
language. Mr.. Sherman has had OppOr-
tunity of knowing officially how Secretary
Manning and Treasurer Jordan conducted
so much of the business of the Government
as was intrusted to them, and l am sure
he will not say upon his own responsible
ty that he knows, or believes, that either
one of the two gentlemen is capable OF
USING OFFICIAL POSITION
for promoting his private interests in any
manner whatever.
whether or not am correct in this
opinion as to what Mr.. Sherman will say,
ieel sure that there are other Senators as
eminent Us he, and as ardent Republicans
as he is, who would acquit Messrs. Man
ming and Jordan of any conduct unworthy
of gentlemen honOred with public trusts.
"Since Mr.. Sherman has not denied the
language attributed TO him, and since you
have called nv attention to it as affecting,
in measure, that bureau of the Treasury
especially under my charge, have to say
that the Fidelity National Bank was or
gauized before l came into Office, and |
believe the preliminary steps were taken
under authority Of my predecessor, Mr.. H.
W. Cannon, Republican and gentle
man of unquestionable integrity and ele-
vation of character. No difference of polit-
ical opinion has prevented my perception
of Mr. Caunon's worth, and my emphatic
expression of confidence in him in all re-
spects.
EXAMINED BY PARSONS.
Moreover, the Fidelity Bank was ex-
amined upon its beginning business by Mr..
r. C. Parsons, of Cleveland, National Bank
Examiner, who, l have been informed,
was appointed by the special request of
Senator Sherman, and who know was re-
tained in that office until few months ago
in consequence Of promise which Mr..
Sherman obtained from Mr.. Manning pre-
yious to his illness.
''If, therefore, there was anything wrong
about the organization of the Fidelity Ma
tional Bank the responsibility rests entire
ly with gentlemen who then were and still
are members of the Republican party.
81 can say with entire conscientious
ness that until arrived in Cincinnati on
Thursday last had never inquired or been
informed as to the politics Of anybody con-
nected with the Fidelity. Since l have
been here it has been mentioned to me that
the chief officers of the bank were
KNOWN HERE TO BE REPUBLICANS,
and that nearly all the persons who had
been prominently connected with the Third
National Bank, from which it is known
that Messrs. Harper, Baldwin and Hop
kins came, were active Republican parts
ans, and identified with the Lincoln Club.
''Of course, this knowledge can not
possibly affect in any way my official &C
ton, ana / should not have thought II
proper even to allude to the matter IN an
interview for publication were it not that
an improper inference might be drawn
from my silence when this statement OF
Mr.. Sherman is being so widely clrcu-
lated.
''Mr. Sherman is misled when he sup
noses the National Banks at the present
time derive any material benefit from De
ing Government repositories. In TINS
respect times have been much changed
aimee Mr.. Sherman was Secretary OF the
Treasury. There may have been then
great benefits conferred upon particular
banks by the
FAVOR OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
But at the present the only gain from Gov.
ernment deposits comes to the public and
not to the banks. The public have by thus
means restored to their use the surplus
revenues being poured into the Treasury
under the influence of laws enacted before
the Democratic party came into power
THE deposit of the public moneys ii
the National Banks is one OF the few me-
diums left open to the Democratic Admin
istration for alternating the Inconvenience
suffered by the public, and in their en-
deavor to make the utmost use OF TINS
means no discrimination has been used, oui
deposits have been given to all banks ap'
plying, without reference to politics or To-
cality.
Perhaps = may, without imprOpriety add
that it is unfortunate that q gentleman ol
Mr. Sherman'a antecedenta and DOsitlOn